title: Cytogenetic analysis of an exposed-referent study: perchloroethylene-exposed dry cleaners compared to unexposed laundry workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Significant numbers of people are exposed to tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene, PCE) every year, including workers in the dry cleaning industry. Adverse health effects have been associated with PCE exposure. However, investigations of possible cumulative cytogenetic damage resulting from PCE exposure are lacking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen dry cleaning workers and 18 laundry workers (unexposed controls) provided a peripheral blood sample for cytogenetic analysis by whole chromosome painting. Pre-shift exhaled air on these same participants was collected and analyzed for PCE levels. The laundry workers were matched to the dry cleaners on race, age, and smoking status. The relationships between levels of cytological damage and exposures (including PCE levels in the shop and in workers' blood, packyears, cumulative alcohol consumption, and age) were compared with correlation coefficients and t-tests. Multiple linear regressions considered blood PCE, packyears, alcohol, and age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences between the PCE-exposed dry cleaners and the laundry workers for chromosome translocation frequencies, but PCE levels were significantly correlated with percentage of cells with acentric fragments (R2 = 0.488, p < 0.026).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There does not appear to be a strong effect in these dry cleaning workers of PCE exposure on persistent chromosome damage as measured by translocations. However, the correlation between frequencies of acentric fragments and PCE exposure level suggests that recent exposures to PCE may induce transient genetic damage. More heavily exposed participants and a larger sample size will be needed to determine whether PCE exposure induces significant levels of persistent chromosome damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, 2117 Biological Sciences Building, 5047 Gullen Mall, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202-3917, USA. jtucker@biology.biosci.wayne.edu
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Sorensen
authors.forename: Avima M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ruder
authors.forename: Lauralynn Taylor
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: McKernan
authors.forename: Christy L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Forrester
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Butler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007846:Laundering; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009820:Ohio; D012997:Solvents / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D013750:Tetrachloroethylene / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D014178:Translocation, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; D012997:Solvents; D013750:Tetrachloroethylene